Improved medical compound



P. M. oEvos.

Medical Composition. No. 56,533. Patente'd July 24, 1866.

Inventor. Witnesses: I

UNITED STATES PATENT P. M. DEVOS, OF N YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVED MEDICAL COMPOUND.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, P. M. DEVOS, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Medical Compound; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a new and improved medical compound or composition, especially intended to be used as -a-preventive of and as a palliative and cure forthe attacks and ravages of cholera, which compound or composition is to be worn, by means of any suitably-construct belt or band adapted to receive it, or in any other proper manner, upon and about and in contact with the abdomen of the person, between the thorax and pelvis, whereby the muscles and intestines of such portion of the body are kept in a state of restraint and prevented from becoming relaxed, and a relief secured from all inflammation, cramping pains, nausea, and other well-known feelings and affections which usually attend an attack of cholera and other diseases of a similar nature.

The several ingredients of which one form of my improved medical compound is composed,

as well as the proportions in which they are severally and respectively used, are as follows, Viz: one-half ounce pulverized camphor; one ounce pulverized nux moschata 6r nutmegs; one-half ounce capsicum or red pepper; one

ounce pulverized charcoal; onc-half ounce pulverized chloride of lime; one-half ounce liquor of Labarraque, the constituents of which are chlorine and oxide of sodium; one ounce patchouly, the system or standard of weights employed being what is ordinarily known as apothecaries weights.

The compound produced from the abovenamed ingredients, when mixed together in or about the proportions stated, is to be placed upon and about the abdomen of the body of the person, between the thorax and pelvis, and, for convenience of application and being worn about such parts, I deem it best to spread and incase it between a sheet of buckskin or other suitable and similar material and a sheet of woolen or cotton flannel or other suitable textile fabric, which two sheets are made of suitable shape to extend over and embrace the entire surface and extent of the abdomen, and have their edges sewed or otherwise properly secured together and bound with a tape or other suitable binding material, or not, accord ing as may be desired, the abdominal band or belt thus produced being provided with straps at suitable points and of the proper lengths to enable it to be secured to and about the abdomen,"a belt of the above-described form and construction being shown in the accompanying plate of drawings.

In the wearing of the belt its flannel side is placed next to or in contact with the skin of the body, because of its well-known tendency not only to produce heat but to retain the natural heat and warmth of the skin, thus, for this reason, being exceedingly important as a partial means of preventing an attack of the cholera or other affection of the bowels and abdomen when being there secured by properly buckling the several straps attached to the belt or band about and around the person, the compound used in such band, then, by its several and distinct ingredients, not only conjunctively but separately, must tend to keep and retain the muscles, intestines, and other portions of the abdomen in a state of restraint, preventing them not only from becoming relaxed and inflamed, but also relieving them from all cramping pains, nausea, and other well -known feelings and affections which usually are attendant upon an attack of cholera and other similar complaints or diseases, and thereby operating, if worn previous to an attack of the cholera,as a preventive to such a disease or sickness, but if after an attack has commenced, as a palliative and means of relief and cure for the same.

To enable my compound, in its operation upon the abdomen, to be more fully understood, I will here add that capsicum or red pepper, when applied externally, as is well known, is a powerful rubefacient; camphor a sedative; nux moschata or nutmegs a stimulant and astringent; charcoal, chloride of lime, and La-- barraque powerful disinfectants or preventives of infection; while, by the using of patchouly or other suitable aromatic or odoriferous substance or material, a pleasant odor and smell will be given to the compound, so

that when used it will not be disagreeable and repulsive or unpleasant to the olfactory nerves of the human system.

Thus, from the above description, it is plain to be seen that with myimproved medical compound,formed of the ingredients stated, a compound is produced which possesses the follow ing characteristics, viz: A stimulant, an astringent, a sedative, a rubefacient, and a disinfectant, all'of which are of the utmost importance and benefit, either in the cure or prevention of cholera and other similar diseases or affections of the abdomen; and, therefore, in the present invention, I do not intend to limit myself to the precise ingredients named, as it is selfevident to all that there are many others which may be used in place thereof or substituted therefor that, when properly compounded and applied to the abdomen, will produce the same effects thereon, the present invention consisting in compounding such materials or substances together as will impart to the compound the characteristics hereinabove stated as contained in the compound formed of the several and separate ingredients recited.

It is obvious that it is not absolutely necessary to use patchouly or other aromatic substance or substances with the compound; but I deem it best to employ some such aromatic substance for reasons hereinbefore given, although without it the operation of the com pound will be as effectual and beneficial.

Although I have herein particularly described my improved medical compound as to be used for the prevention, palliation, and cure of cholera, it is obvious that it can be used for other complaints and affections of the human system consequent upon a diseased state of the bowels and other portions of the abdomen,

to relieve or cure which a compound similar in its characteristics to that embraced in this description would be appropriate or adaptable; and therefore I do not intend to limit myself to its use for cholera alone, but intend to apply and use it as may be found desirable and advantageous' And, in conclusion, it may be here remarked that, in lieu of using a belt or band as a means of applying the compound to the abdomen, the band or belt may be dispensed with, but I think it best to use it, as with it a more perfeet and complete action of the. medical compound is obtained; and, furthermore, as the belt or band may be formed or manufactured in various ways and of many materials, and as it constitutes no part of the present invention, but is only referred to herein as one way or method of using my compound, I wish it to be distinctly understood that I lay no claim to it nor to any one peculiar manner of making it.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. Amedical compound or composition, when formed of such materials as will impart to it the characteristics herein described, and when used substantially in the manner and for the puposes specified.

2. A medical compound made by mixing camphor, nux moschata or nutmegs, and capsicum or red pepper, in combination with any suitable disinfectant, whether one or more in number, and when mixed together in or about the proportionsnam'e'd, and used substantially as and for the purpose specified.

The above specification of my invention signed by me this 17th day of May, 1866.

P. M. DEVOS.

Witnesses:

ALBERT W. BROWN, M. M. LIVINGSTON. 

